User:Jonschr/Chris Thieneman

Chrs Thieneman is a Kentucky politician running for the Republican primary for the Louisville Mayor.

2010 candidacy for Louisville Mayor
Thieneman says he will work in a nonpartisan way if elected. “I'm not going to apologize for having independence from the mainstream political system,” he said in the Courier-Journal.

If elected, Thieneman has said he will close down several quasigovernmental groups in Louisville. "That’s where all the secrets are held. That’s where all the money is being held. Where the money is will always lead you to the answers. At the minimum they need to be more transparent. We have to do away with those to where the buck stops with the mayor."

Issues
The following issues are addressed on the Thieneman for Mayor web site:
 * Taxes: Kentucky ranks in the top third nationally in nearly every measure of state tax rates. If I am, elected mayor I will reduce some of the occupational taxes that burden our small businesses. The reason for this promise is that the most urbanized areas like Louisville are doubly taxed, first to provide their own local services and once more to pay for services around the state.
 * Jobs: Too many small business owners remain unable to get credit despite what we as taxpayers game them to do just that. These small business owners are the very taxpayers who stood by American banks during their time of need. The small business owner’s time is now. Independent business organizations, unlike GLI, are ready with new proposals for jumpstart our economy.
 * Housing: The Louisville Development Community could play a major role in improving the affordability of homes and at the same time help jump start job growth. Greater promotions of home ownership and specific scrutiny of Louisville troubled housing projects is long overdue.
 * MSD: MSD is accountable to no one, other than the Mayor of Louisville. The answer to this lack of accountability is to put MSD under the public service commission where complaints can be heard and not ignore.
 * Airport: The economic engine of the community is our prized International Airport. We must continue to allow the growth of the city’s economic engine. Having qualified people on the Airport Board and not political appointees will create greater pubic confidence.
 * Economic Stimulus package: I believe the louder we are, the better chance we have of nudging the TARP FUNDED BANKS that have branches here in Louisville. We need to motivate them to use the money as it was intended to be used.
 * Working with Frankfort: As a successful developer and businessman, I believe that Louisville needs a fulltime strategy to promote, encourage, and expand the city’s message to state government. The inability to have a deadline on the east end bridge is such a case of the failure to lead.
 * Budget and City Employees: One of my first proposal was to announce that, as my first act as mayor, I would have a “top to bottom” budget and employee review to finally bring accountability to city hall. Double dipping, huge retirement packages, and secret agreements must be a thing of the past.
 * Transparency: Senate Bill 80, which call for greater public and metro council input to city hall, must move forward. The old government “top down” solutions and command economy and government models are outdated and ineffective. The people must be part of cleaning up the mess in city hall.
 * Term Limits: Just as the Mayor had term limits, I believe the Metro Council should have term limits as well. The post of Council member was intended to be filled by real citizens and not by professional politicians.

Awards

 * Kentucky Young Leaders For 21st Century (1999)
 * Business First 40 Under 40 Recipient (1999)
 * Leadership Louisville Class of 2001
 * Millenium Maker Award - Judge Rebecca Jackson (2000)